Swiss Army to invade MOA with specialty knife store

Makers of the Swiss Army knife are opening a retail store at Mall of America, their first location in the Midwest.

The Victorinox Swiss Army store is scheduled to open in June, next to the mall's Apple store.

Its debut mirrors Apple in one more way: It's another product manufacturer that has chosen the Bloomington megamall as a retail launching pad and showcase for its consumer brand. That's a path already trod by dozens of product makers, from Lego to Nine West to Peeps.

The Victorinox Swiss Army store will sell its familiar knives, but it also carries travel gear, fragrances, watches and other consumer products. The company now has just a handful of U.S. stores, mostly on the East Coast.

Also new to Minnesota are two clothing retailers: Swim n' Sport, which opened in January and features women's swimwear; and Foreign Exchange, a new women's and men's clothing retailer scheduled to open in June, which has about 10 locations in the western United States, said MOA spokeswoman Sarah Schmidt.

Other retailers coming to the megamall: Blast Blow Dry Bar, which already has two locations in the Twin Cities, and Bruegger's Bagels.

And one thing will soon depart -- Ice Castles, the frozen outdoor attraction built north of the mall. Its two-month run is scheduled to end Feb. 20, although officials say it might be extended if the weather stays cold.